White People Wearing Headdresses

Other than assholes like Dov Hikind, we recognize that blackface is incredibly inappropriate in all situations.

One would think that Oscar nominated actress Michelle Williams would know that blackface is wrong and would therefore make the logical conclusion that redface is also wildly inappropriate and fucked up. But no.. she has appeared on the cover of AnOther Magazine in redface.

THIS IS ABSURD and unacceptable. Ruth Hopkins of Jezebel does great coverage here. In part, she writes:

Some folks contend that since it’s acceptable to dress up as a cowboy, they should get a pass for dressing up as an ‘Indian.’ Wrong. Donning the customary dress of a profession, like that of a cowboy, or a firefighter, or a police officer, is not comparable to wearing a hackneyed ‘Indian’ costume because being Native is not an occupation. American Indians are an entire race of people. We are living, breathing, human beings, made up of hundreds of separate Tribal groups, each with their own history, culture, language, and often, land base. We’re ‘Indian’ all day, everyday, and we own our own likenesses. We’re not extinct! Collectively, we number in the millions.

Do you want real pictures of American Indians? Would you like to hear our stories and get to know us? Come see us. Pick up the phone. Tweet us. Hire a Native. In 2013, we’re represented in every profession. Work with us, not against us. Don’t be a pretendian. Stop supporting cliché images of American Indians. Racism is racism no matter what era of our history you attempt to portray, or what lens or filter you use.

Adding insult to injury, Michelle’s latest project,Oz: The Great and Powerful, is based on the novels of L. Frank Baum. Baum was a white supremacist; a flaming racist who called for the extermination of all American Indians.

Before Baum wroteThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz, he was the editor of a newspaper in Aberdeen, South Dakota. South Dakota is the home of nine Oceti Sakowin (Sioux) Tribes. On December 20, 1890, nine days before The Wounded Knee Massacre where over 150 Lakota Sioux, mostly women and children, were slaughtered by the 7th Calvary (Custer’s regiment), Baum wrote an editorial that called for the genocide of every last American Indian.

COME ON MICHELLE. Step it up, woman. Stop this madness.